Glam Polish Hostile

Hostile was released by Australian polish maker Glam Polish as part of the limited edition Wicked Intent collection at the beginning of September this year. This series of six complex holographic polishes in darker, glowing fall shades is possibly my favorite Glam release since the first Cast a Spell collection. Hostile is the first of three Wicked Intent polishes that I purchased to share with you here. How I managed to limit myself to three is a mystery in this world.

Hostile is a medium-dark sprucey blue-green scattered holo bearing minute on-tone holographic microglitters plus a boatload of deep fuchsia shimmers. While not a blackened color, it does have a slightly blackened look on the nail, brighter in the center and deepening around the edges. It twinkles with a plush infinitesimal sparkle that is incredibly dynamic -- tiny sparks fire at every move, like rich fabric interwoven with nanoscale jewels. The fuchsia shimmers give the polish an ephemeral deep wine-colored glow with an almost duochromatic feel to it, which probably contributes to the blackened effect. It's a moody, mysterious, darkly dramatic lacquer that is not without a slightly sinister aspect for all of its beauty. 

Application was lovely. The consistency of Hostile is fluid and dense with components that give it a certain textured pull -- there's a discernible feel of the components as you draw the brush over the nail. Despite this, it has a graceful, self-leveling flow over the nail and is easy to manipulate with Glam's round flexible brush. Pigmentation is outstanding. With a generous hand, this is a one-coater, although I used two for this manicure. Cleanup is easy and straightforward. Hostile dries naturally in very good time to a distinctly gritty finish that requires at least one layer of topcoat to smooth. I actually used two for an ultra glassy look.

Photos show two coats of Hostile over treatment and basecoat with a surface-smoothing layer of Pretty Serious Plump Up the Volume followed by a topcoat of Seche Vite. We're still having Joaquin-related weather here today (ie gusty and overcast with a misty rain), so no sun shots but this polish is rich enough that it doesn't need the sun to reveal its treasures.

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Glam Polish Hostile

Rachel, the owner and creative force behind Glam Polish, is an amazingly creative and prolific mixologist with razor-sharp formulary skills. She generates one collection after another, most of them built around complex holographic polishes that combine holo pigments with microglitters and shimmers of all kinds. You might think that such remarkable productivity would lead to a certain homogeneity among her creations, but you'd be wrong to do so. Each polish possesses a unique presence and the sense that it's been attended to with foresight and every due care given its compadres.

Glam has its own dedicated distributor in the US, with shipping beginning at $3.50 for the first polish plus $1 for each additional polish. The only problem with getting your Glam fix on here in the US is actually deciding which polishes to buy. The Wicked Intent collection being limited edition might make that easier at the moment, I know it did for me, but it's no small feat to comb through so many beautiful offerings and make a selection without becoming overwhelmed.

Hashtag firstworldproblems -- life should always be so tough!

love,
Liz